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To Those Who Fail
"All
honor to him who shall win the prize,"
The world has cried for a thousand years;
But to him who tries, and who fails and dies,
I give great honor and glory and tears;
Give glory and honor and pitiful tears
To all who fail in their deeds sublime;
Their ghosts are many in the van of years,
They were born with Time, in advance of Time.
Oh, great is the hero who wins a name,
But greater many and many a time
Some pale-faced fellow who dies in shame,
And lets God finish the thoughts sublime.
And great is the man with a sword undrawn,
And good is the man who refrains from wine;
But the man who fails and yet still fights on,
Lo, he is the twin-born brother of mine.
| About
Joaquin Miller (1937-1913) |
|
Miller was born near Liberty, Indiana. When he was young, Miler went to California during the early gold rush in search of wealth and adventure. Apart from becoming a cook for a group of miners, he wrote poems at the kitchen. During his time in California, he was also wounded from an arrow when a battle broke between the settlers and Indian tribes. Apart from being a cook (he had scurvy
from his own cooking) and a miner, Miller had also After spending some time in Europe,New York and Alaska (where he lost an ear an a part of his toe from frostbite) he settled in Oakland and went on real estate hunting spree. Starting from a small land he managed to
expand his estate to 70 acres. He built his residence, grew His adventurous life did not end even during his death. It was said that his funeral got out of hand and mobs went on ransacking his place for souvenirs. Police also had to "rescue" his corpse. |
